This is my third attempt at writing about an aspect of manifesting goals that came to mind while I was in the liquid think tank this morning.
The shower.
I was thinking of an email exchange with a friend who has recently attained a major goal.
One he’d been working toward for years!
During that time in which we traveled parallel lanes as we went for goals we did what we could to support each other’s efforts.
Sometimes acting as a cheering coach, other times a sympathetic ear.
I recently suggested he read Neville Goddard’s Be What You Wish and while it may seem an odd suggestion if he’s achieved his goal, it’s actually a critical piece of the puzzle if he doesn’t want to lose what he’s achived.
Most people, myself included, think of the action items they need to do to achieve the goals. What about what you need to avoid?
Whether you are on the path toward the goal, you have recently achieved it, or you’ve had it for awhile what you don’t do is as important as what you do if you want to attain and/or maintain it.
Fortunately, you can use Neville’s approach for either.
Let’s say your goal is to be a successful consultant. Depending on the industry some of the tasks you’d need to do would be take specialized training, subscribe to an industry publication.
Perhaps join a professional association.
But what shouldn’t you do?
In a nutshell, you’d need to avoid actions, situations, and individuals that would negatively impact your efforts.
You’d do well to avoid activities that would distract you from what you should be doing as well as avoiding people who aren’t supportive of your efforts.
The last one can be trickier than you might imagine because it may not be obvious at certain points along the path to your goal.
As I thought about strategies that might help my friend in determining next steps I considered the importance – now that he’s achieved his goal – of finding people who can help him sustain it. Not just people like me who are happy for him, but peers with whom he can share ideas and embrace this new place in his life.
People who would understand the enormous effort that went into it.
Since it may not be obvious where and how to find these people – outside professional organizations – it makes sense to go back to Neville’s strategy.
What would a person who achieved this do? How would they spend their time and with who?
I’m not suggesting turning your back on friends but it is critical to be around people who can support who you are and where you want to go next.
Who can help you maintain this new phase of your life.
If it’s related to a specific goal, it’s likely you’d want to narrow your search.
You recently passed the bar. What is the next most important thing to do?
If it’s related to a lifestyle goal, you would also want to narrow your search.
You moved to a new state. What unique activities do the locals do that would help you feel the place home and feel like a local?
Perhaps most importantly, what do you need to let go of?
- Unless there’s a valid reason you may not want to hang around college after you’ve graduated and passed the bar.
- It wouldn’t make sense to tell everyone in your new state how much you miss your old state or why a certain store or brand or activity in your old state is superior to anything available in your new state.
While taking this step can happen at any point along the journey to your goal, starting early would be helpful.
- If you are studying to be a lawyer, subscribe to legal journals, join a professional organization, find and hang out with other attorneys
- Visit the new state before moving if possible so that by the time you move it already feels like home. If you can’t? Read up as much as you can about it and/or subscribe to a magazine dedicated to a major city there.
No Time Like the Present
Sooner is better.
We go through a number of transitions along the path to our goal. We grow and become. If we embrace these changes up front by realizing ahead of time who we need to be, we bring the goal to life that much sooner.
Be sure to include what you won’t do or who you won’t be in your planning.
Letting go of that which no longer serves.
Don’t forget to celebrate your victory, but equally as important, hold on to what you’ve achieved.
Honor yourself.
Elizabeth Maxim 